Hand held flaring tool

Abstract

A hand held flaring tool includes a receiving portion for receiving an end of a tube, a stop element, a locking mechanism and a flaring mechanism. The stop element is movably disposed at the receiving portion and is movable between a stopping position, where the stop element limits insertion of the tube at the receiving portion to set the tube at an appropriate location for flaring the end of the tube, and a flaring position, where the stop element is moved to a position remote from the end of the tube. The locking mechanism is operable to lock the tube at the receiving portion when the tube is inserted into engagement with the stop element. The flaring mechanism is operable to move a flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand held flaring tool for flaring an end of a pipe or tube, said hand held flaring tool comprising:
 a receiving portion configured for receiving the tube therein for flaring the end of the tube; 
 a stop element that is movably disposed at said receiving portion and is movable between a stopping position, where said stop element limits insertion of the tube in said receiving portion to set the tube at an appropriate location for flaring the end of the tube, and a flaring position, where said stop element is moved to be remote from the end of the tube; 
 a locking mechanism operable to lock the tube at said receiving portion when said stop element is at said stopping position and when the tube is inserted into engagement with said stop element; 
 a flaring mechanism operable to move a flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube, when said stop element is moved to said flaring position; and 
 a handle portion configured for a user of said flaring tool to grasp and support said flaring tool while the user actuates said flaring mechanism; 
 wherein said locking mechanism is powered via a first powered actuator, and wherein said first powered actuator is actuated to lock the tube at said receiving portion responsive to user actuation of a first user input at or near said handle portion; 
 wherein said flaring mechanism is powered via a second powered actuator, and wherein said second powered actuator is actuated to move said flaring mandrel responsive to user actuation of a second user input at or near said handle portion; and 
 wherein said second user input is disposed on said handle portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a multi-piece collet that has a plurality of collet portions and that receives the tube therethrough and that is movable relative to a collar to cause collapsing of said collet onto the tube to clamp and secure the tube relative to said collet and said receiving portion, and wherein said handle portion is configured for the user of said flaring tool to grasp and support said flaring tool while the user actuates said locking mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 2 , wherein said collet comprises an internal biasing element that urges said collet portions away from the tube when said collet is positioned relative to said collar to allow for expansion of said collet. 
     
     
       4. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 2 , wherein said collar comprises a wider end and a narrower end opposite said wider end, and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a lever arm that is pivoted via actuation of a locking actuator to impart a longitudinal movement of said collet into said collar of said receiving portion to urge said collet towards said narrower end of said collar to collapse said collet onto the tube to clamp and secure the tube relative to said collet and said receiving portion. 
     
     
       5. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 4 , wherein an outer surface of said collet comprises a generally conical shaped portion and a smaller diameter portion having a diameter smaller than said generally conical shaped portion of said outer surface, wherein an inner surface of said collar comprises a generally conical shaped portion and a larger diameter portion having a diameter larger than said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface, wherein said collet is expandable when said generally conical shaped portion of said collet is at said larger diameter portion of said collar, and wherein said collet is collapsed when said generally conical shaped portion of said collet is urged into and along said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface of said collar. 
     
     
       6. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 1 , wherein said stop element includes a biasing element that urges said stop element towards said stopping position for engagement with the end of the tube inserted into said receiving portion. 
     
     
       7. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 6 , wherein, upon actuation of said flaring mechanism, movement of said flaring mandrel towards the end of the tube causes said stop element to move to said flaring position. 
     
     
       8. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 1 , wherein movement of said flaring mandrel causes a portion of one of (a) a flaring mandrel holder and (b) said flaring mandrel to engage a portion of said stop element to move said stop element to be remote from the end of the tube. 
     
     
       9. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 1 , wherein said flaring mandrel comprises a reversible flaring mandrel having a first flaring end and a second flaring end opposite said first flaring end, and wherein said first and second flaring ends provide different flaring sizes or shapes, and wherein said reversible flaring mandrel is removable from said flaring tool and configured to be selectively positioned at said flaring tool to position a selected one of said first and second flaring ends at the flaring position for engaging with the end of the tube during the flaring process. 
     
     
       10. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 9 , wherein said flaring mandrel is accessible through a side window of a housing disposed at an end of said flaring mechanism to allow a user to remove said flaring mandrel without disassembling said receiving portion of said flaring tool. 
     
     
       11. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 10 , wherein a mandrel holder of said flaring tool supports said flaring mandrel, and wherein said mandrel holder includes at least one retaining element for retaining said reversible flaring mandrel at the selected position at said mandrel holder during the flaring process. 
     
     
       12. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 11 , wherein said flaring mandrel comprises a metallic flaring mandrel and wherein said mandrel holder includes at least one magnetic retaining element for magnetically attracting said metallic flaring mandrel to retain said metallic flaring mandrel at said mandrel holder. 
     
     
       13. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 1 , wherein said second powered actuator of said flaring mechanism comprises a multi-stage cylinder operable to move said flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube responsive to pressurized air or fluid at an inlet end of said cylinder. 
     
     
       14. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 1 , wherein said flaring mechanism comprises a threaded rod threadedly received at a housing portion of said flaring tool, said threaded rod having one end engagable with said flaring mandrel and an opposite end engagable with a rotational driving device, and wherein said rotational driving device is operable to rotatably drive said threaded rod to move said flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube. 
     
     
       15. A hand held flaring tool for flaring an end of a pipe or tube, said hand held flaring tool comprising:
 a receiving portion configured for receiving the tube therein for flaring the end of the tube; 
 a stop element that is movably disposed at said receiving portion and is movable between a stopping position, where said stop element limits insertion of the tube in said receiving portion to set the tube at an appropriate location for flaring the end of the tube, and a flaring position, where said stop element is remote from the end of the tube; 
 a locking mechanism operable to lock the tube at said receiving portion when said stop element is at said stopping position and when the tube is inserted into engagement with said stop element; 
 wherein said locking mechanism comprises a multi-piece collet that has a plurality of collet portions and that receives the tube therethrough and that is movable relative to a collar of said receiving portion to cause collapsing of said collet onto the tube to clamp and secure the tube relative to said collet and said receiving portion, and wherein said collet comprises an internal biasing element that urges said collet portions away from the tube when said collet is positioned relative to said collar to allow for expansion of said collet; 
 wherein said collet comprises a generally conical outer surface and wherein said collar comprises a generally conical inner surface having a wider end and a narrower end, and wherein said collet is moved towards said narrower end of said generally conical inner surface of said collar to cause collapsing of said collet onto the tube; 
 a flaring mechanism operable to move a flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube, when said stop element is moved to said flaring position; 
 a handle portion configured for a user of said flaring tool to grasp and support said flaring tool while the user actuates said locking mechanism and said flaring mechanism; 
 wherein said locking mechanism is powered via a first powered actuator that is operable to lock the tube at said receiving portion in response to user actuation of a first user input at or near said handle portion; 
 wherein said flaring mechanism is powered via a second powered actuator that is operable to move said flaring mandrel in response to user actuation of a second user input at or near said handle portion; and 
 wherein said second user input is disposed on said handle portion. 
 
     
     
       16. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 15 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a lever arm that is pivoted via actuation of a locking actuator to impart a longitudinal movement of said collet into said collar of said receiving portion to urge said collet towards said narrower end of said conical inner surface of said collar for collapsing said collet onto the tube to clamp and secure the tube relative to said collet and said receiving portion. 
     
     
       17. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 16 , wherein outer surface of said collet comprises a generally conical shaped portion and a smaller diameter portion having a diameter smaller than said generally conical shaped portion of said outer surface, wherein said inner surface of said collar comprises a generally conical shaped portion and a larger diameter portion having a diameter larger than said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface, wherein said collet is expandable when said generally conical shaped portion of said collet is at said larger diameter portion of said collar, and wherein said collet is collapsed when said generally conical shaped portion of said collet is urged into and along said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface of said collar. 
     
     
       18. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 17 , wherein said outer surface of said collet comprises a curved transition portion between said generally conical shaped portion and said smaller diameter portion and wherein said collar comprises a curved transition portion between said generally conical shaped portion and said larger diameter portion. 
     
     
       19. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 18 , wherein said curved transition portions engage one another as said generally conical shaped portion of said outer surface of said collet is moved towards said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface of said collar to urge said collet towards a collapsed state. 
     
     
       20. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 15 , wherein said flaring tool comprises a biasing element that urges said stop element towards said stopping position for engagement with the end of the tube inserted into said receiving portion. 
     
     
       21. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 20 , wherein movement of said flaring mandrel causes a portion of a flaring mandrel holder or of said flaring mandrel to engage a portion of said stop element to move said stop element to be remote from the end of the tube. 
     
     
       22. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 21 , wherein said flaring mandrel comprises a reversible flaring mandrel having a first flaring end and a second flaring end opposite said first flaring end, and wherein said first and second flaring ends provide different flaring sizes or shapes, wherein said reversible flaring mandrel is removable from a flaring mandrel holder of said flaring tool and configured to be selectively positioned at said flaring tool to position a selected one of said first and second flaring ends at the flaring position for engaging with the end of the tube during the flaring process, wherein said flaring mandrel is accessible through a side window to allow a user to remove said flaring mandrel without disassembling said receiving portion of said flaring tool, wherein said mandrel holder of said flaring tool supports said flaring mandrel, and wherein said mandrel holder includes at least one retaining element for retaining said reversible flaring mandrel at the selected position at said mandrel holder during the flaring process. 
     
     
       23. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 15 , wherein said second powered actuator is operable to move said flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube responsive to pressurized air or fluid at an inlet end of said second powered actuator, and wherein said handle portion includes a generally cylindrical shaped grip that is attached at and extends from said second powered actuator. 
     
     
       24. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 15 , wherein said flaring mechanism comprises a threaded rod threadedly received at a housing portion of said flaring tool, said threaded rod having one end engagable with said flaring mandrel and an opposite end engagable with a rotational driving device, and wherein said rotational driving device is operable to rotatably drive said threaded rod to move said flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube. 
     
     
       25. A hand held flaring tool for flaring an end of a pipe or tube, said flaring tool comprising:
 a receiving portion configured for receiving the tube therein for flaring the end of the tube; 
 a stop element that is movably disposed at said receiving portion and is movable between a stopping position, where said stop element limits insertion of the tube in said receiving portion to set the tube at an appropriate location for flaring the end of the tube, and a flaring position, where said stop element is moved remote from the end of the tube; 
 a locking mechanism operable to lock the tube at said receiving portion when said stop element is at said stopping position and when the tube is inserted into engagement with said stop element; 
 a flaring mechanism operable, when said stop element is moved to said flaring position, to move a flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube; 
 wherein said flaring mandrel comprises a reversible flaring mandrel having a first flaring end and a second flaring end opposite said first flaring end, and wherein said first and second flaring ends provide different flaring sizes or shapes; 
 wherein said reversible flaring mandrel is removable from said flaring tool and configured to be selectively positioned at said flaring tool to position a selected one of said first and second flaring ends at the flaring position for engaging with the end of the tube during the flaring process; 
 a handle portion configured for a user of said flaring tool to grasp and support said flaring tool during the flaring process; 
 wherein said locking mechanism is operated via a first powered actuator, and wherein said first powered actuator is actuated to lock the tube in the appropriate location for flaring at said receiving portion in response to user actuation of a first user input at or near said handle portion; 
 wherein said flaring mechanism is operated via a second powered actuator, and wherein said second powered actuator is actuated to move said flaring mandrel to flare the end of the tube in response to user actuation of a second user input at or near said handle portion; and 
 wherein said second user input is disposed on said handle portion. 
 
     
     
       26. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 25 , wherein said flaring mandrel is accessible through a side window of a housing that houses said locking mechanism to allow a user to remove said flaring mandrel without disassembling said receiving portion of said flaring tool. 
     
     
       27. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 25 , wherein a mandrel holder of said flaring tool supports said flaring mandrel, wherein said mandrel holder includes at least one retaining element for retaining said flaring mandrel at the selected position at said mandrel holder during the flaring process while the tube is locked at the receiving portion by said locking mechanism. 
     
     
       28. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 27 , wherein said flaring mandrel comprises a metallic flaring mandrel and wherein said mandrel holder includes at least one magnetic retaining element for magnetically attracting said metallic flaring mandrel to retain said metallic flaring mandrel at said mandrel holder. 
     
     
       29. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 25 , wherein said second powered actuator is operable to move said flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube responsive to pressurized air or fluid at an inlet end of said second powered actuator. 
     
     
       30. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 25 , wherein said flaring mechanism comprises a threaded rod threadedly received at a housing portion of said flaring tool, said threaded rod having one end engagable with said flaring mandrel and an opposite end engagable with a rotational driving device, and wherein said rotational driving device is operable to rotatably drive said threaded rod to move said flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube. 
     
     
       31. A hand held flaring tool for flaring an end of a pipe or tube, said hand held flaring tool comprising:
 a handle and a body, wherein said handle is configured to be held by a user operating said hand held flaring tool for supporting said body of said flaring tool away from a floor surface; 
 a securing user input at or near the handle and a flaring user input on the handle, whereby said securing and flaring user inputs are accessible and operable by the user holding said handle; 
 wherein said body comprises a receiving portion configured for receiving the tube therein for flaring the end of the tube; 
 a stop element that is movably disposed at said receiving portion and is movable to a stopping position, where said stop element limits insertion of the tube in said receiving portion to set the tube at an appropriate location for flaring the end of the tube; 
 a securing mechanism operable to secure the tube at said receiving portion when said stop element is at said stopping position and when the tube is inserted into engagement with said stop element; 
 wherein said securing mechanism secures the tube at said receiving portion responsive to actuation of said securing user input; 
 a flaring mechanism operable, responsive to actuation of said flaring user input, to move a flaring mandrel at the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube; 
 wherein said securing mechanism is operated via a first powered actuator, and wherein said flaring mechanism is operated via a second powered actuator, and wherein said first and second powered actuators are actuated in response to user actuation of said securing user input and said flaring user input, respectively. 
 
     
     
       32. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein said stop element includes a biasing element that urges said stop element towards said stopping position for engagement with the end of the tube inserted into said receiving portion. 
     
     
       33. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 32 , wherein movement of said flaring mandrel towards the end of the tube causes said stop element to move to a flaring position, where said stop element is remote from the end of the tube. 
     
     
       34. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein movement of said flaring mandrel causes a portion of one of (a) a flaring mandrel holder and (b) said flaring mandrel to engage a portion of said stop element to move said stop element to be remote from the end of the tube. 
     
     
       35. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein said flaring mandrel comprises a reversible flaring mandrel having a first flaring end and a second flaring end opposite said first flaring end, and wherein said first and second flaring ends provide different flaring sizes or shapes, and wherein said reversible flaring mandrel is removable from said flaring tool and configured to be selectively positioned at said flaring tool to position a selected one of said first and second flaring ends at a flaring position for engaging with the end of the tube during the flaring process. 
     
     
       36. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 35 , wherein said flaring mandrel is accessible through a side window of said body to allow a user to remove said flaring mandrel without disassembling said body of said flaring tool. 
     
     
       37. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 36 , wherein a mandrel holder of said flaring tool supports said flaring mandrel, and wherein said mandrel holder includes at least one retaining element for retaining said reversible flaring mandrel at the selected position at said mandrel holder during the flaring process. 
     
     
       38. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein said second powered actuator of said flaring mechanism comprises a multi-stage cylinder operable to move said flaring mandrel towards and into engagement with the end of the tube responsive to pressurized air or fluid at an inlet end of said cylinder. 
     
     
       39. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein said securing mechanism comprises a multi-piece collet that has a plurality of collet portions and that receives the tube therethrough and that is movable relative to a collar of said receiving portion to cause collapsing of said collet onto the tube to clamp and secure the tube relative to said collet and said receiving portion, and wherein said collet comprises an internal biasing element that urges said collet portions away from the tube when said collet is positioned relative to said collar to allow for expansion of said collet, wherein said collet comprises a generally conical outer surface and wherein said collar comprises a generally conical inner surface having a wider end and a narrower end, and wherein said collet is moved towards said narrower end of said generally conical inner surface of said collar to cause collapsing of said collet onto the tube. 
     
     
       40. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 39 , wherein said securing mechanism comprises a lever arm that is pivoted via actuation of a securing actuator via actuation of said securing user input to impart a longitudinal movement of said collet into said collar of said receiving portion to urge said collet towards said narrower end of said conical inner surface of said collar for collapsing said collet onto the tube to clamp and secure the tube relative to said collet and said receiving portion. 
     
     
       41. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 40 , wherein said outer surface of said collet comprises a generally conical shaped portion and a smaller diameter portion having a diameter smaller than said generally conical shaped portion of said outer surface, wherein said inner surface of said collar comprises a generally conical shaped portion and a larger diameter portion having a diameter larger than said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface, wherein said collet is expandable when said generally conical shaped portion of said collet is at said larger diameter portion of said collar, and wherein said collet is collapsed when said generally conical shaped portion of said collet is urged into and along said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface of said collar. 
     
     
       42. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 41 , wherein said outer surface of said collet comprises a curved transition portion between said generally conical shaped portion and said smaller diameter portion and wherein said collar comprises a curved transition portion between said generally conical shaped portion and said larger diameter portion. 
     
     
       43. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 42 , wherein said curved transition portions engage one another as said generally conical shaped portion of said outer surface of said collet is moved towards said generally conical shaped portion of said inner surface of said collar to urge said collet towards a collapsed state. 
     
     
       44. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein said securing mechanism comprises a multi-piece collet that has a plurality of collet portions and that receives the tube therethrough and that is movable relative to said collar of said receiving portion to cause collapsing of said collet onto the tube to clamp and secure the tube relative to said collet and said receiving portion, and wherein said collet comprises an internal biasing element that urges said collet portions away from the tube when said collet is positioned relative to said collar to allow for expansion of said collet. 
     
     
       45. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein said stop element is movable to a flaring position, where said stop element is moved to be remote from the end of the tube, and wherein said stop element is moved to said flaring position responsive to said flaring mechanism moving said flaring mandrel at the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube. 
     
     
       46. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 31 , wherein said flaring mandrel comprises a movable flaring mandrel having a first flaring portion and a second flaring portion, and wherein said first and second flaring portions provide different flaring sizes or shapes, and wherein said movable flaring mandrel is movable and positionable at said flaring tool to provide a selected one of said first and second flaring portions at a flaring position for engaging with the end of the tube during the flaring process. 
     
     
       47. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 46 , wherein said flaring mandrel is accessible through a window of said body to allow a user to move said flaring mandrel without disassembling said receiving portion of said flaring tool. 
     
     
       48. The hand held flaring tool of  claim 47 , wherein a mandrel holder of said flaring tool supports said flaring mandrel, and wherein said mandrel holder includes at least one retaining element for retaining said movable flaring mandrel at the selected position at said mandrel holder during the flaring process.